Process of and apparatus for con



April 17, 1951 R. 'r. SAVAGE 2,548,912

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR. CONVERTING HYDROCARBON MATERIAL 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 6. 1947 Re E M/ T 0 m E ATTORNEY April 17,1951 R. "r. SAVAGE PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING HYDROCARBONMATERIAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 6, 1947 ATTORNEY April 17, 1951 R.T. SAVAGE 2,548,912 PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING HYDROCARBONMATERIAL Filed Aug. 6, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR.

159258 ZJamge ATTORN EY Patented Apr. 17, 1951 PROCESS OF AND APPARATUSFoR CON- VERTING HYDROCARBON MATERIAL Reuben T. Savage, Ridley Park,Pa., assignor to Houdry Process Corporation, Wilmington, Del., acorporation of Delaware Application August 6, 1947, Serial No. 766,714

10 Claims.

1 In the art of converting hydrocarbons, it is desirable for liquidphase hydrocarbon material to be applied directly to hot contactmaterial as it gravitates downwardly through a reaction housing. This istrue particularly when the charging stock contains heavy fractionsbecause the latter, in the presenceof the gravitating contact material,are either vaporized and converted, or converted directly to lowerboiling products.

In prior practice involving utilization of a bed of gravitating contactmaterial, the hydrocarbon charge material existed solely in the vaporphase upon entrance thereof to the reaction zone. In order to obtainvapors from a heavy liquid-containing charge, itwas difficult, if notimpossible, to effect complete or substantially complete vaporization ofthe charge in simple heating equipment without at the same timeproducing low anti-knock rating gasoline often in substantial quantity.This, as will be understood, is undesirable. Accordingly, in manycatalytic cracking operations, it has been preferred in preparation ofcracking stock to eliminate from crude petroleum or other source ofhydrocarbons their content of heavy difiicultly vaporizable components,if any, resulting in loss of charge stock in the cracking process.

On the other hand, application of a charge containing such heavycomponents directly to hot catalytic material gravitating through aconversion zone permits utilization of the entire charge, including itsheaviest portions, for obtaining products having desiredcharacteristics. If the contact mass is essentially inert catalytically,vaporization and other desired changes of heavy charge components areeffected at conditions susceptible of easy control to limit or eliminateundesired reaction processes. In either event, particularly when the hotcontact mass and liquid-containing charge are contacted adjacent theupper end of the reaction zone, the vaporization and other changes areinitiated under practically ideal conditions of heat transfer betweenthe charge and the contact mass thereby minimizing or even eliminatingundesired conversions resulting inevitably from time-temperaturetreatments of such hydrocarbon charges.

In the process herein disclosed, contact material, in bed formation,gravitates through a housing and, in known manner, forms the conversionzone proper. Above the bed of contact material, in accordance with myinvention, contact material having controlled conversion temperaturegravitates downwardly and, by a con- .trol suitably effected, thisgravitatingcontact material forms a freely falling curtain wherein thecontact material has density and thickness sufiicient at least tosubstantially prevent passage therethrough of atomized liquidhydrocarbon material while freely permitting a desired penetratingaction to occur.

More particularly, the aforesaid control is effected in response tomovement of the regenerated contact material through an annular meteringpassage having substantially uniform width throughout the circularlength thereof, this operation producing, in its preferred aspects, atubular curtain of contact material having the density and thicknesscharacteristics noted above. The liquid phase hydrocarbon material isconducted interiorly of this tubular curtain and there atomized withresultant production of an atomized liquid medium which is engaged withsaid tubular curtain throughout an inner, circumferentially completearea thereof.

Further in accordance with the invention, the aforesaid curtain ofcontact material, whether tubular or not, is formed in a chamber of saidhousing above the bed of contact material, the atomizing operation alsoproceeding in this chamber. It is characteristic of the invention thatthe curtain of contact material, by reason of its thickness and densitycharacteristics, prevents, substantially or entirely, passage ormigration of atomized liquid material to the interior wall surface ofthe housing. In the absence of such a control, the migrating liquidmaterial, as the conversion operation proceeds, engages said housingwall surface with resultant undesired deposition of carbonaceousmaterial thereon.

In the above described chamber, sufiicient vapor or gas pressure shouldbe maintained above the bed or gravitating contact material to produceconcurrent flow, as the operation proceeds, of the hydrocarbon materialwith respect to said gravitating contact material, this being desirablein order for the conversion operation to be effected in a satisfactorymanner.

Various other objects and advantages of my invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description.

My invention resides in the process of and apparatus for convertinghydrocarbon material, the process steps and features hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

For an understanding of my invention and for an illustration of one formof apparatus with which the invention may be practiced, reference is tobe had to the Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation,showing a conversion housing and associated mechanism as constructed inaccordance with one form of the invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are horizontal sectional views, partly inplan, taken onthe respective lines 2-2 and 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, partly in elevation,showing a metering passage for producing a stream or curtain of contactmaterial and an associated atomizer; and

Figs. 5, 6 and '7 are horizontal sectional views, partly in plan, takenon the respective lines 5, 6-6 and 1-1 of Fig. 4.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, I have shown a vertical housing Iwhich, inhorizcntalcross section, may be circular or of any othersuitable configuration. The housing I defines a reaction zone whereinhydrocarbon material is cracked or otherwise converted in the presenceof contact material C which moves downwardly therethrough under theinfluence of gravity, the contact material C being introduced into saidhousing I in suitable manner, as' by an inlet pipe 2 extending throughthe top housing wall at the center thereof.

In the form of the invention herein shown, although not necessarily,ashallow receptaclelike members is suitably supported in the upperportion of the housingl, said member 3 having a central discharge pipe 4opening therethrough and extending downwardly therefrom. If desired,although the invention is not to be so restricted, the lower end of thepipe 4 may have a frustro-conical pipe 5 suitably secured thereto, as bya fiange-and-bolt connection 5, the lower end of the pipe 5,p-re'ferably,comprising a vertical lower end portion 5a, Fig. 4. With anarrangement-ofthis character, said lower end portion 5a, of the pipe 5hasdiameter somewhat greater than that of the lower endof the pipe 4.Obviously, the pipes 4 and-5 may be replaced by a single pipe havingdesired uniform diameter throughout the length thereof.

Disposed interiorly of said discharge pipe 5, immediately adjacent the"lower end thereof, is a conical member I, the lower surface of which,preferably but not necessarily, is positioned in the'same horizontalplane as the lower surface of the pipe 5, said conical member i beingsuitably supported in the position shown, as by a plurality of bars 8secured thereto and to said pipe 5. In accordance with the invention,the external diameter of the lower surface of the conical member I issuitably less than the internal diameter of the lower surface of thepipe end portion 5a and, accordingly, these two surfaces define anannular metering passage or orifice 9 utilizable as hereinafterdescribed. The pipe end portion 5a and the conical member I should besymmetrically related tov each other and, if so, the width of theannular passage 9 is uniform throughout the circular length thereof.Preferably, the arrangement is such that the exterior sloping surface ofthe conical member I forms with the interior sloping surface of the pipe5 a path which diverges in a direction leading upwardly from theaforesaid annular passage 9.

A pipe I0 adapted, preferably but not necessarily, to be traversed byhydrocarbon material which is substantially. or entirely in the liquidphase, extends from the exterior of the housing I to the interiorthereof and, if desired, this pipe l0 may enter the aforesaid pipe 4 atany suitable level and pass downwardly through the pipes 4 preferablyalthough not necessarily, is of the general character disclosed inpending application'ser. No. 756,032, filed June 20, 1947. A pipe i iadapted to betraversed by hydrocarbon vapors extends from the exteriorof the housing I to the interior thereof and, preferably, this pipe IIis positioned at a higher level than the aforesaid If desired, a conicalmember I2 or other deflecting arrangement may be positioned below theatomizer A, said conical member I2 being supported in any suitablemanner, as by a plurality of bars I3 secured thereto and to the interiorsurface of the housing I. The conical member I2, when utilized, shouldhave diameter substantially exceeding that of the aforesaid conicalmember I.

As shown, the pipe 4, the pipe 5, the conical member I, the atomizer-Aand the conical member I2 should be so related to'each other that theirrespective longitudinal axes are in coincidence with each other and alsowith the longitudinal axis of the housing I.

In operation, regenerated contact material C having suitableconversiontemperature passes continuously from the pipe 2 and, to suitable extent,fills the receptacle 3 which defines an upper zone of the housing I.From the receptacle 3, the contact material gravitates downwardlythrough the pipe 4, the pipe 5 and then through the annular passage 9which, in accordance with the invention and as hereinafter more fullydescribed, has width such that it restricts or chokes the downward flowof contact material under the influence of gravity while moving alongthe described path above the plane of the annular passage 9. Below theplane of said annular passage 9, the contact material, in the form ofthe invention herein shown, falls freely under the influence of gravityas a tubular, relatively dense curtain orstream S until, after engagingand being deflected by the conical member I2, when utilized, it comes torest upon-and at least partly defines the upper surface of the bed B ofgravitating contact material which defines the reaction zone proper, thebottom surface of the bed of contact material engaging a tube sheet I4horizontally disposed in the housing I and suitably secured to theinterior surface thereof. As the contact material falls freely as such acurtain below the plane of the annular passage 9, it is engaged, inaccordance with the invention, by liquid hydrocarbon material afteratomization thereof by the aforesaid atomizer A which, as shown in Fig.4, is supported interiorly of the tubular curtain S by the aforesaidpipe I0.

In view of the foregoing, it clearly appears that the atomizer A isdisposed in a chamber D of the housing I, said chamber D being bounded,at its lower end, by the zone defined by the upper surface of the bed Band, at its upper end, by the aforesaid zone defined by the receptacle3.

If desired, a plurality of pipes I5 may be spaced uniformly around theinterior surface of the housing I. The upper endscf these pipes I5communicate with the chamber defined by the memher 3, which may supportsaidpipes, and the lower ends thereof terminate at the upper surface ofthe aforesaid bed of contact material, said pipes I being adapted to betraversed by a portion, preferably a minor portion, as more or less ofthe total amount of contact material gravitating through the housing I.The pipes I5, when utilized, contribute as regards maintenance of thesurface of the bed B at a level approximately that of the lower ends ofsaid pipes.

Any suitable arrangement may be utilized for discharging the contactmaterial C from the housing I. To this end and as diagrammaticallyindicated, a plurality of spaced horizontal tube sheets It may besecured to the interior surface of the lower end portion of the housingI below the aforesaid tube sheet I I, the extreme lower end portion ofsaid housing I, preferably, being conical as illustrated. A plurality ofsuitably spaced tubes or pipes II open through and depend from each ofthe tube sheets I4 and I6. As known in the art, the tubes II onsuccessively lower tube sheets progressively decrease in number and theinternal diameter thereof progressively increases whereby the contactmaterial passes through the lower conical end portion of the housing Iso as to reach and traverse a main discharge pipe or conduit I8 whichshould be inclined as illustrated. In known manner, a suitablycontrolled valve I9 is associated with the pipe I8 to restrict the flowof contact material therethrough and cause the bed B to be a choked bedby reason of the fact that downward movement, under the influence ofgravity, of the contact material forming said bed B is restricted orimpeded.

Adjacent the lower end of the housing I, any suitable arrangement may beprovided for disengaging cracked or converted vapors from the contactmaterial C. To this end, as diagrammatically indicated, the aforesaidtube sheet I I may support a plurality of tubes 20 which upstandtherefrom and open therethrough, the tubes 20 supporting a plurality ofsuitably arranged channel members 2 I or equivalent, which are disposedin inverted relation so that, in known manner, they may be utilized fordisengagement of .vapors from the contact material, the vaporsthereafter entering the tubes 20 by way of passages 20a formed,respectively, therein. A pipe.

22 opens through the wall of the housing I below the tube sheet I 4 andcommunicates with the space above the adjacent conical piles of contactmaterial. This pipe 22 may have associated therewith a control valve 23and is adapted to receive and conduct the converted vapors to anysuitable destination.

Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 7, the atomizer A hereinbeforereferred to should be one which produces fog, mist, spray or otherliquid particles having suitable dimensions from the liquid hydrocarbonmaterial admitted thereto. As shown, the atomizer A comprises a casing24 having a top wall 25 through which the lower end of the aforesaidpipe I0 opens and to which said pipe is secured. The casing 24 has alower wall 25 above which said casing 24 comprises circular portions 24aand 2419 related to each other in right-angle relation. In the form ofatomizer herein shown, although not necessarily, a row of ports orpassages 240 open through the respective casing portions 24a and 2411,these ports 240 being alined in sets. Hydrocarbon material admitted bythe pipe I0 to the casing 24 passes to and through each of said ports240. The atomizer A is located interiorly of the tubular curtain S asuitable distance below the, annular passage 9 and, preferably, saidatomizer A is so positioned-that its rows of ports 240, or equivalent,are concentrically related to the curtain S.

When hydrocarbon material is to be cracked in the housing I, the contactmaterial 0 herein before referred to should be catalytic in characterand the temperature thereof, upon admission to the housing I, shouldrange between 800 F. and- 1000 F. or higher for example, about 900 F.Any suitable kind of catalytic contact material may thus be utilizedsuch, for example, as acti-- vated clay pellets, or syntheticsilica-alumina pellets or beads, etc. having suitable major dimensionssuch as between 1 5 and A of an inch. Other suitable catalysts forcracking include synthetic plural oxide composites, silicious ornonsilicious in character, and containing, for example, zirconia,alumina or beryllia. In lieu of a cracking operation, other types ofconversion operations such, for example, as one wherein hydrocarbonmaterial of the character referred to below is desulphurized under knownconditions with catalytic contact material of the general characterreferred to above, or equivalent. Or, re-- forming or dehydrogenation ofnaphthas or other normally liquid hydrocarbons may be effected in thepresence of the above or other desired types of catalyst, certain ofwhich are well known in the art. I

During operation, vapors such, for example, as vaporized gas oil,naphtha or lighter hydro-- carbons having suitable elevated temperature,as in a range from 850 F. to 950 F. are admitted continuously to thehousing I by way of the con- 'duit I I. Simultaneously, liquidhydrocarbon material such, for example, as a suitable residual stock,topped or reduced crude having temperature elevated into a suitablerange as, for example, from 400 F. to 850 F. is charged continuouslythrough the pipe I0 under superatmospheric pressure ranging, forexample, from 10 lbs. to 200 lbs. per square inch gaugeor as otherwisemay be required for causing the atomized liquid material from theatomizer A to engage and properlypenetrate the contact material formingthe hereinbefore described falling curtain S of contact material. Theliquid hydrocarbon material thus traversing the pipe I0 passes throughthe atomizer casing 24 and then through the sets of alined ports 24c.

As regards each set of alined atomizer ports, streams of hydrocarbonmaterial pass, respectively, in opposite directions along substantiallya straight-line path which is suitably related to a horizontal plane.These streams engage each other in head-0n relation between the twoalined ports and, due to such engagement and also due to the presence ofthe barrier defined by the aforesaid'casing portions 24a and 241), thereis a resultant stream of atomized material which passes downwardly in aninclined direction, Fig. 4. Preferably, this atomized material exists asa mist or fog and, as it moves from the atomizer A, there is substantialdivergence thereof. 7

It will be understood that a corresponding stream of atomized materialpasses from each of the other sets of alined ports 240. Accordingly, itfollows that the respective streams of atomized liquid material passalong paths radiating from a common center which coincides with thelongitact material before the density or compactness thereof hasdecreased to an undesired extent.

For purposes of explanation and without limitation of the invention, thefollowing detailed description relating to a period of actual operationis included as a part of this specification.

The housing I had internal diameter of 16 feet. The lower pipe portion ahad external diameter of 18 inches and internal diameter at the lowerend thereof of 16% inches. The external diameter of the conical member Iwas 13 inches. Therefore, the uniform width of the annular passage 9,throughout the circular length thereof, was approximately 1 inches andthe thickness of the falling curtain S was approximately the same. Thecontact material C was formed from spheres, each having diameter ofapproximately 0.154 inch ranging down to fines. When contact material ofthis character was fed through the pipes 4, 5 at a rate of 85 tons perhour, the aforesaid curtain S was approximately seven to nine pieces ofcontact material thick in any horizontal direction. Excellent resultswere obtained when the conditions of operation were as noted immediatelyabove. However, the invention is not to be thus limited because,obviously, the thickness of the falling curtain S may depart widely fromthe dimension referred to above. Thus, for example, said curtain mayhave thickness ranging from one inch upwardly to approximately sixinches, if desired, but in any event the contact material should besufficiently dense for the intended purpose. 1

Accordingly, in view of the foregoing, it will be understood thathydrocarbon material admitted to the housing I by way of the pipes I0and H is converted in the presence of the contact material C to producecracked products. As the operation proceeds, hydrocarbon vapors,principally, fill the aforesaid chamber D under pressure determined bythe pressure existing in the hereinbefore described pipe 22. In knownmanner, a suitable sealing medium, such as a stream of flue gases, isadmitted to the top of the housing by way of a pipe Ia, Fig. 1, thissealing medium being maintained under pressure 7 slightly greater thanthat of said hydrocarbon vapors last named in order to prevent passageof these hydrocarbon vapors upwardly through the pipe 2. Due to thispressure relation which exists in the chamber D, the hydrocarbonmaterial admitted thereto as described above, is caused to passdownwardly concurrently as regards the gravitating contact material,this hydrocarbon material being cracked in the presence of said contactmaterial and the resulting cracked vapors being disengaged therefrom atthe channel members 2I. Thereafter, in the form of the invention hereinshown, these cracked vapors enter the tubes 20 by way of the respectivepassages 20a, pass downwardly through said tubes and enter the spacebelow the tube sheet I4, said cracked vapors passing to any suitabledestination by way of the hereinbefore described pipe 22. In knownmanner and by suitable means, not shown, a suitable gaseous medium, suchas steam is admitted to the lower portion of the housing I, below thepipe 22 and under pressure above that existing at the level thereof, toprevent passage of hydrocarbon vapors through the pipe I8.

As the operation proceeds, the spent contact material 0 passes throughthe groups of tubes I1 in succession and then leaves the housing I byway of the pipe I8. Thereafter, in suitable manner, said spent contactmaterial is regenerated and then returned to the inlet pipe 2 forreadmission to said housing I. 7

My invention has hereinbefore been described with respect to a presentpreferred form thereof involving the formation of a tubular curtain orstream S of gravitating contact :material to the interior surface ofwhich the atomized liquid material is applied, said tubular curtain Sbeing circular in horizontal section. Obviously, however, the inventionis not to be thus limited. Thus, the tubular stream'or curtain ofcontact material may be non-circular in horizontal section. Further, ina broader aspect of the in-' vention, the annular pasage 9 may beomitted in favor of a metering orifice formed, for example, to produce astream of contact material having desired non-tubular configurationwhichj as regards the contact material, is characterized by uniformityof thickness,-sufficient thickness, proper density, etc. all ashereinbefore described with respect to the tubular curtain or stream Sof contact material.

As described above, the hydrocarbon material supplied to the atomizer Amay be entirely orsubstantially in the liquid phase. However, ifdesired, mixed phase hydrocarbon material having hydrocarbon vapors orother vapors and hydrocarbon liquid material in desired proportion maybe supplied to said atomizerA for application to the curtain S. With anoperation of this character,"the quantity of hydrocarbon vapors admittedto the housing I by the pipe I I may be decreased as desired and, undersome circumstances, the total vapor and liquid phase charge may bepassed to the atomizer A or equivalent for application to tubular streamor curtain S of contact material. Or, if desired, the total charge mayconsist solely of liquid phase hydrocarbon material which is suppliedtothe atomizer'A;

The preceding description relates'to catalytic conversion processes butthe" invention is not to be so limited. Thus, the contact material C maybe substantially inert catalytically such, for example, as fused alumina(alundum), fused silica and alumina, heat-resistant quartz or quartzpebbles, fused silica, etc., this material having approximatelyspherical. or chunk-like configuration and the major dimensions 'rangingbetween A to /1 of an inch, for example. With contact material of thischaracter, hydrocarbon vapors may be admitted to the housing I by way ofthe pipe I I under the conditions hereinbefore described and theatomizer A may be supplied with at least partially liquid phase heavyhydrocarbon material such, for example, as entire crudes, reduced ortopped crudes, crude residuums, etc., all of which ing temperatureranging up to 750 F. or higher.

When the operation is of this character, the liquid portion of the heavyhydrocarbon r'naterial is vaporized and viscosity-broken in response toengagement thereof with'the freelyfalling inert contact material andthat forming' the top surface of the bed B, theresulting vapor bottoms,distillation. contain heavy, difficultly vaporizable fractions orcomponents such as tar, asphalt or the like in various proportions.Inert contact material of the character described 7 should gravitatethrough the housing while have ing temperature within a range between800 F. and 1250 F. and heavy hydrocarbon material should be supplied tothe atomizer A while hav-.

ized: products being-withdrawn from; the: housing I ,by -way;oftheconduitfli:

Obviously: many-,- modifications: and variations of the invention ashereinbefore set: forth: may bemadewithout: departing:- fromthe spirit.and scope-thereof and; therefore; only suchilimitationszshouldbe-imposed asare indicatedin the appended claims;-

I claim as; my invention:

1; In a process for: theconversion of heavy, relatively: non-volatile;-hydrocarbons using-- particles; of fluent contact: materialrwherein saidparticles flOWTdlOWIlWflIdlY-flOHl? a location above acconfined' zoneinto :sa-id-Iconfined zone -andonto' the top surface of 35. wide compactbed-of said particles within saidzone; which top surface is spacedbelowzthe top of said confined zone, then gravitate downwardly ascompact'- non-turbu-' lentrbed-r and: discharge through a' constrictedzonegbelowsaid bed, the total horizontal area of said; constricted zonebeing a small" fraction ofthfiihOIiZOlltfil area:.of? said rbedf themethod which comprises flowing contactmaterial down-- wardly in compactnon-turbulent'fiow to and through an annularmeteringzone-located abovethe topgsurface oftsaidibed and spaced away from the-sides of saidconfi'nedi zone, said mete-ringzone having aiuniformsannularwidth andhaving a-horizontal :periphery'whichi is a='small' fraction ofthat-ofvaid-bed; discharging particles of contact material from said :metering:zone as a thick; dense; sheetelike curtain of particles of 'contact'material *fallingifreely and unobstructed-lydown weirdly-saidcurtain-having such a thickness and 1 density as to:intercept'iatomiz'edliquid hydrocarbons directed thereto; directingatomized liquid' hydrocarbons toward said curtain -so that saidcurtain?is" interposed between said atomized liquid 'hydrocarbons and the sidesof said confined zone; and removing'hydrocarbon vapors including thoseformed-by contact of said contact material and said: liquid" hydrocarbonmaterial from said-:confinedczone;

2. Im: a: process: for the conversion of heavy, relatively non-volatile:hydrocarbons I using particles of fluent contact-1 material whereinsaidparticlesflow-downwardly :froma 'location above a confined zone intosaid confined zoneand"ontt'i the i'vtop'zsurface of a wide compact"b'edofsaid particlesswithinrisaid :zone, which top surface-is spacedbelow the :top .of said confined "zone; then gravitate downwardly as acompact non=turbu1ent bedqand discharge through a' constricted zone lbelow said bed; thertotal horizontal area of said constricted zone-beingawsmall -iractiona of'thc horizontal areazofzsa-id bed:thewmethodfzwhich: comprises flowing, hot: contact material down-1wardly inacompactnon-turbulent flow to -and: through anlannularl.metering zone :located. above-. thetopsurface of said bed and spacedawayfrom the sides of said confined zone saidflmetering zone having auniform annular .widthandchavingv a horizontal periphery which is asmall fraction ofthatof said bed; discharging particles of contactmaterial fromsaid metering zone asa thick, dense, sheet-like'tubularcurtain of-particles'of' contact'materialfalling freely and unobstructedly downwardly'in substantially *straight ver curtain. is; interposedbetween said: atomized liquid'hydrocarbons' and:thefsidesnfrsaidconfined' zone, the; amount of said: atomized:hydrocarbon material beingsuch that'atleastzthelmaj ority' of: saidatomized hydrocarbons penetratesisaidlcum tainiwithoutemerging from thefar side thereof andi removing hydrocarbon vapors including thoseformedrbyconta'ct of said contact material and said. liquid hydrocarbonmaterial from said confined. zone.

3; The method'of CIalm'ZJlI'lJWhiCh the hydrocarbonconversion effectedis cracking and". the contact" material comprises an: activehydrocarebon cracking catalyst 4; The method of claim 2xin' which'sthehydro carbozr conversion. efiected is?viscosity-breakingandthe:contactmaterialfis a: solid heat carrier:

5. In: aprocess: for 'the': conversion; of heavy; relativelynon-volatile hydrocarbons using' particles'ofifluent' contact material:wherein said. particles flow downwardly from" a" location above a aconfined: zone 'into said. confined zone andonto the top surface of awide compact bedrofisaid: particles within'said zone; which topsurface'fis spacedbelow the top of said confined zone; then-1g-ravitate.downward1y as a compact n0n-turbu-=- lent bed and dischargethrough a constricted: zone below said bed; the'wtotal horizontal areaon said'constricted zone being a small. fraction'of': the: horizontalarea; of -2 said bed; th'er method; which comprises flowing; hot:contact-1 material downwardly.- in compact": non-turbulent? flow to andthrough an annular metering zone: located above the top surface of saidbed and spaced:

- away from the sidest'oft aid-confined-rzone; said metering: :zonehaving a uniform" annular width and having a" horizontal periphery:which is a small fraction "of that of said bed; dischargingrparticlesof'contact material from said; metering-1 zoneas a thick;dense, sheet-like tubular curtain of particles of contact materialfallingfireelyr and unobstructedly downwardly in substantially: straightvertical paths within said confined zone; said curtain havingr uch'athickness :and density)- as'to intercept atomized liquid hydrocarbons:di-a rected thereto; directing atomized: liquidchydro carbons at atemperaturesubstantiallybelow the temperature of "said contact materialfrom-wither in said tubular: curtain :towardxsaid -.curtain; so

to the -topof-the confinedzone andetherhydro carbon vapors formed bycontact 'with :saidfconetact 'material downwardly through said bedconecurrently under conversion conditions-1 6; In a process: for theconversion ofheavy;

relativelynon-volatile hydrocarbons: using pare ticles' of hot-fluentcontact material :whereinsaid particlesllow downwardly froma-locationabove a confined zone into said confined zone-and onto thetopsurface of a wide-"compact bed of- :said

particles" within said zone; which topsurfaceis circular and is spacedbelow thertop of said: con-l fined zone, then gravitate downwardly as acom-.-

pact non-turbulent bed. and discharge-through a constricted zonebelowsaid bed thetotalhori- .being a small fraction of the horizontalarea of said bed; the method which comprises flowing a portion of saidhot contact material downwardly in compact non-turbulent flow to acircular annular metering zone located above the top surface of said bedand spaced away from the sides of said confined zone, said metering zonehaving a uni form annular width and having a circumference which is asmall fraction of that of said bed; passing said particles through saidmetering zone in choked flow; discharging particles of contact materialfrom said metering zone as a thick, dense, sheet-like horizontallycircular curtain of particles of contact material falling freely andunobstructedly downwardly in substantially straight vertical pathswithin said confined zone, said curtain having such a thickness anddensity as to intercept atomized liquid hydrocarbons directed thereto;directing atomized liquid hydrocarbons at a temperature substantiallybelow the temperature of said contact material from within said tubularcurtain toward a portion of said curtain so that said curtain isinterposed between said atomized liquid hydrocarbons and the sides ofsaid confined zone, the amount of said atomized hydrocarbon materialbeing such that at least the majorityof said atomized hydrocarbonspenetrates said curtain without emerging from the far side thereof;non-turbulently flowing the remainder of said hot contact materialdownwardly from said location above the confined zone to the surface ofsaid bed as a plurality of solid compact columns located outside of saidcurtain of particles; and removing hydrocarbon vapors including thoseformed by, contact of said contact material and said liquid hydrocarbonmaterial from said confined zone.

7. In a process for the conversion of heavy, relatively non-volatilehydrocarbons using particles of hot fluent contact material wherein saidparticles flow downwardly from a location above a confined zone intosaid confined zone and onto the top surface of a wide compact bedof saidparticles within said zone, which top surface is circular and is spacedbelow the top of said confined zone, then gravitate downwardly as acompact non-turbulent bed and discharge through a constricted zone belowsaid bed, the total horizontal area of said constricted zone being asmall fraction of the horizontal area of said bed; the method whichcomprises flowing a portion of said hot contact material downwardly incompact non-turbulent flow to a circular annular metering zone locatedabove the top surface of said bed and spaced away from the sides of saidconfined zone, said metering zone having a uniform annular width andhaving a circumference which is a small fraction of that of said bed;passing said particles through said metering zone in choked flow;discharging particles of contact material from said metering zone as athick, dense, sheet-like horizontally circular curtain of particles ofcontact material falling freely and unobstructedly downwardly insubstantially straight vertical paths within said confined zone, saidcurtain having such a thickness and density as to intercept atomizedliquid hydrocarbons directed thereto; directing atomized liquidhydrocarbons at a temperature substantially below the temperature ofsaid contact material from within said tubular curtain toward a portionof said curtain so that said curtain is interposed between said atomizedliquid hydrocarbons and the sides of said confined zone, the amount ofsaid atomized hydrocarbon material being such that curtain of particles;deflecting the particles in said curtain, after contact with theatomized liquid hydrocarbons, in a direction away from the center ofsaid tubular curtain and toward the sides of the confined zone, wherebythe particles in said curtain are distributed over a portion of the topsurface of said bed greater than the horizontal area defined by theouter periphery of said curtain; and passing hydrocarbon vaporsincluding vapors formed by contact with said contact material throughsaid bed under conversion conditions.

8. An apparatus comprising a vertical housing, a contacting chamber,means for introducing fluent solid particles to the upper end of saidcontacting chamber comprising a vertical conduit having a circular lowerend, a circular member within the lower end of said conduit and formingan annular metering passageway for fluent solid particles with saidlower end, an atomizer disposed immediately below said circular memberand concentrically therewith, means for introducing liquids to saidatomizer from the exterior of said housing, a cone having a basesubstantially greater than the outer periphery of said circular member,said cone being disposed with its apex upward a short distance belowsaid atomizer and being positioned concentrically with respect to saidcircular member, means for removing fluids from said contacting chamberand said housing and means for removing fluent solid particles from saidcontacting chamber and said housing.

9. The method for converting high boiling hydrocarbons at leastpartially in the liquid phase to lower boiling hydrocarbons whichcomprises flowing particles of fluent granular contact material from aconfined accumulation of said particles located above a conversion zoneonto the surface of a bed of said particles in the lower part of saidconversion zone as a plurality of confined streams of said particlespassing through a gas space in the upper part of said conversion zone,said confined streams passingdownwardly from said accumulation to saidbed near the periphery of said gas space, simultaneously flowingparticles of said contact material downwardly in compact nonturbulentfiow from said accumulation to a metering zone located above the topsurface of said bed and in the central portion of said gas space,passing said particles through said metering zone in choked flow,discharging particles of contact material from said metering zone as athick, dense, sheet-like curtain of particles of contact materialfalling freely and unobstructedly downwardly in said gas space, saidcurtain having such a thickness and density as to intercept liquidhydrocarbons directed thereto, directing atomized liquid hydrocarbonstoward said curtain so that said curtain is interposed between saidatomized liquid hydrocarbons and the sides of said gas space,withdrawing particles of contact material from the bottom of saidconversion zone, removing hydrocarbon vapors including those formed bycontact of said particles of contact material and liquid hydrocarbonsfrom said conversion zone, flowing a substantially inert sealing gasinto said accumulation at a pressure such that it prevents anew i=5 eseigaoi gaseoushydrocarbonsfrom said conversion zone into said;accumulation.

10-. In a process; for the conversion of, heavy, relatively non-volatilehydrocarbons using particles of fluent contact. material wherein saidparticles. flow. downwardly from a location above a confined zone ,intosaid confined zone and onto the top surface of a wide compact. bed ofsaid particles within said zone,owhich top surface is spaced below thetopof said confined zone, then gravitate downwardly as a compactnon-turbulent bed: the method which comprises flowing contact materialdownwardly in compact non-turbulent flow to. andthrough an annularmetering zone located above the top surface of said. bed andvdischarging particles of contact material from saidmetering zone as athick,, dense, sheet-like curtain of particles of contact materialfalling freely andlunobstructedly downwardly, said our-- tain havingsuch a thickness and density as to intercept atomized. liquidhydrocarbons directed 1'6 thereto; directing, atomized liquidhydrocarbons towardsaid curtainso that said curtain is'interposedbetween said, atomized. liquid hydrocarbons and the'sides of saidconfined zone; deflecting, the particles in said curtain, after contactwith the atomized liquid hydrocarbons, divergently outward toward thesides of said confined zone,

whereby the particles in said' curtain are dis- REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record inthe.

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,836,325 James Dec. 15, 19312,227,634 Dalin Jan. 7, 1941

1. IN A PROCESS FOR THE CONVERSION OF HEAVY, RELATIVELY NON-VOLATILEHYDROCARBONS USING PARTICLES OF FLUENT CONTACT MATERIAL WHEREIN SAIDPARTICLES FLOW DOWNWARDLY FROM A LOCATION ABOVE A CONFINED ZONE INTOSAID CONFINED ZONE AND ONTO THE TOP SURFACE OF A WIDE COMPACT BED OFSAID PARTICLES WITHIN SAID ZONE, WHICH TOP SURFACE IS SPACED BELOW THETOP OF SAID CONFINED ZONE, THEN GRAVITATE DOWNWARDLY AS A COMPACTNON-TURBULENT BED AND DISCHARGE THROUGH A CONSTRICTED ZONE BELOW SAIDBED, THE TOTAL HORIZONTAL AREA OF SAID CONSTRICTED ZONE BEING A SMALLFRACTION OF THE HORIZONTAL AREA OF SAID BED: THE METHOD WHICH COMPRISESFLOWING CONTACT MATERIAL DOWNWARDLY IN COMPACT NON-TURBULENT FLOW TO ANDTHROUGH AN ANNULAR METERING ZONE LOCATED ABOVE THE TOP SURFACE OF SAIDBED AND SPACED AWAY FROM THE SIDES OF SAID CONFINED ZONE, SAID METERINGZONE HAVING A UNIFORM ANNULAR WIDTH AND HAVING A HORIZONTAL PERIPHERYWHICH IS A SMALL FRACTION OF THAT OF SAID BED; DISCHARGING PARTICLES OFCONTACT MATERIAL FROM SAID METERING ZONE AS A THICK, DENSE, SHEET-LIKECURTAIN OF PARTICLES OF CONTACT MATERIAL FALLING FREELY ANDUNOBSTRUCTEDLY DOWNWARDLY, SAID CURTAIN HAVING SUCH A THICKNESS ANDDENSITY AS TO INTERCEPT ATOMIZED LIQUID HYDROCARBONS DIRECTED THERETO;DIRECTING ATOMIZED LIQUID HYDROCARBONS TOWARD SAID CURTAIN SO THAT SAIDCURTAIN IS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID ATOMIZED LIQUID HYDROCARBONS AND THESIDES OF SAID CONFINED ZONE; AND REMOVING HYDROCARBON VAPORS INCLUDINGTHOSE FORMED BY CONTACT OF SAID CONTACT MATERIAL AND SAID LIQUIDHYDROCARBON MATERIAL FROM SAID CONFINED ZONE.